The story of overcoming great disadvantage is something of a cliché in sport. But, boy, do we still love a good story about beating the odds and the triumph of the human spirit over what seem to be insurmountable odds.

These are legion in football, but there are fewer such stories in the elite sporting codes such as

"When I lost, I was utterly disappointed. It was a bittersweet moment, in a way. But I can't attribute that to not having a coach. I think I did well enough,"